Photos: “We Do” protesters apply for marriage licenses

Nine same-sex couples applied for marriage licenses at the Buncombe County Register of Deeds office Friday afternoon. All nine couples were rejected. Deputy Register of Deeds Lane Raskin took the applications and expressed regret that they could not be accepted under North Carolina law, which prohibits same-sex marriage.

The couples applied for marriage licenses as part of the “We Do” campaign, organized by the Campaign for Southern Equality. The campaign involves same-sex partners applying for marriage licenses which they know they are unable to receive to highlight what they say is a denial of their civil rights. Similar events have taken place in Buncombe county before, sometimes resulting in the arrest of protesters who refused to leave the office until they were granted license to marry. There were no arrests on Friday.